maui

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

If you’re reading this, I’m going to assume you’re planning a vacation to Maui—yippee for you! If you’re not planning a trip to Maui, you should be! Seriously though, get on it!

Anyways, if you’re even remotely considering a trip to Maui and wondering where to stay, this post is for you. If you’ve never been before, you might be overwhelmed…which part of the island should you stay on? Are some beaches better than others? Are those fancy resorts really worth the money? Will a condo save you big bucks? I’m going to let you in on everything you need to know!

Side note: After you read up on the lay of the is(land) and know which part you want to stay on, check out these posts for recommendations:

Lay of the Land, Maui Style

Maui is kind of a big island (we’re talking 10-12 hours of solid driving to go all the way around, which is just a point of reference because NOBODY drives around the entire island in a day) so don’t underestimate its size when you’re planning your trip. It’s divided into four main regions (West Maui, South Maui, East Maui, and the North Shore/Upcountry area) but only has two resort areas. You’ll fly into Kahului (the most sizable city/town) and this is where Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco are located but you likely won’t spend much time in Kahului once you pick up your rental car and groceries.

West Maui: West Maui was originally developed in the 1960s and remains the most popular place to stay and play on Maui. The old whaling village of Lahaina anchors this area and the Ka’anapali resort area is home to the majority of dining and accommodation options on this side of the island. It’s about a 30-40 minute drive from the airport (in Kahului) to the Ka’anapali/Lahaina area in West Maui.

South Maui: South Maui consists of Kihei (a decent sized beach town with plenty of condo options), Wailea (a more upscale, privately planned resort community), and Makena (the sleepy end of the road region in South Maui). The beaches in South Maui tend to get the most sunshine and are generally less crowded than the ones in West Maui. The resorts in Wailea (the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Marriot, etc) are only about a 15-20 minute drive from the airport.

East Maui: East Maui is the most remote side of the island (reached by the Road of Hana) and is usually reached as a day trip as accommodations are limited. While most visitors stay in West or South Maui, East Maui isn’t to be missed and the Road to Hana will likely be a highlight of your trip.

North Shore/Upcountry: The North Shore and Upcountry are the most authentic areas of Maui. This is where the locals live and while you likely won’t stay in this part of the island, you should plan plenty of time to explore this part of the island. Paia, Makawao, and a drive upcountry through Kula to Ulupalakua shouldn’t be missed.

Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, you’ll need to decide which part of the island will suit you best. First off, I’ll lay out some pros and cons of the West side vs. the South side before mentioning some more “off-the-beaten-path” options on the North Shore and in Hana.

For a lot of people, a Hawaiian vacation is THE dream! Visions of swaying palm trees, ukulele music, hula dancers, surfers, and iconic beaches are what everybody thinks of when they imagine Hawaii. And, hey, it’s all there! But for many travelers, choosing an island to visit or knowing how to spend their days on each island can be overwhelming. For the traveler who wants to see everything, a cruise to Hawaii can be the perfect solution…you get to go to all of the islands, you don’t have to worry about inter-island airfare, and your bed follows you around!

So if you’re wondering how to make sure you get to see the best of the islands from a cruise to Hawaii, this post if for you! These ships offer countless excursions…how are you supposed to know which ones to pick? And when is it better to ditch the excursion and head out on your own?

These are my recommendations on how to see the best of Hawaii from a cruise ship. For the purposes of this post, I will be adapting these recommendations to fit the Norwegian Cruise Line’s 7-Night cruise itinerary sailing out of Honolulu as it’s one of the more popular cruise lines but you can still use these daily recommendations no matter which ship you’re on!

Since you’ll be flying in and out of Honolulu (that’s Oahu), here are a few highlights that you should hit on Oahu either before or after your cruise:

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

When planning a trip to Maui, most visitors have some sort of agenda or bucket list of must do items, and I think it’s safe to say that for many, snorkeling in Maui is high on the list. The volcanic island is home to some pretty stellar reefs boasting out of this world coral formations and gorgeous colorful aquatic life. If you’re coming to Maui and looking for the best Maui snorkeling spots, excursions, or places to find sea turtles, this is the guide for you!

Best Snorkeling Spots by Boat

Molokini Crater: A volcanic islet located off Maui’s south shore, Molokini is the most popular snorkeling spot on Maui and on many visitors’ bucket list. Molokini’s crescent shape keeps its interior clam and protected making near perfect conditions for snorkelers. Its interior is literally wall-to-wall colorful coral formations that begin just below the water’s surface and slope to the shallow ocean floor. It’s not hard to find a snorkeling excursion to take you to Molokini so it’s not unusual for a half dozen catamarans to be anchored in the crescent at any given time. While years of fish feeding in the crater has depleted the natural population, there’s still plenty to see and recommend about it to make it some of Maui’s best snorkeling.

If you’ve poked around much on this blog, you may be aware that I spent a gap year on Maui after finishing school. While getting to experience “living like a local” was ah-mazing, I also made it my mission to play tourist in my new home. One of the most popular tourist attractions on Maui is Haleakala, a large dormant volcano whose slopes are the heartland of Maui. While tons of people ascend to the summit each morning to watch the sunrise, the lucky ones get to follow it up with a downhill bike ride from summit to sea.

In my opinion, biking down Maui volcano (Haleakala) is one of the best ways to experience the crater and Upcountry Maui while getting a little dose of excitement (van tours can be sooooo boring!). There are literally dozens of companies that run Haleakala downhill biking tours and while they all offer the same basic experience, picking a tour operator that suits your adventure style will really turn your Maui volcano tour and bike ride into one of the highlights of your vacation.

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

If you’re planning a trip to Maui, you’re likely looking forward to plenty of time beach bumming, lounging poolside, and hunting down the best beach bar. And hey, that’s what a beach vacay is all about right?? But just in case you’re looking for more things to do in Maui, for a bigger dose of adventure, or to get out and explore all that Maui has to offer, here are 5 suggestions for Maui day trips:

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

Are you planning a trip to Maui? Yippee if you are! You’re probably thinking about swaying palm trees, golden sandy beaches, and exotic marine life and while the land of the hula certainly has all of that, it has much, much more. The vast majority of space on Maui isn’t the shoreline where so many visitors flock each year, but rather the “upcountry.”

Stretching to include the cowboy country of Makawao, the farmland of Kula, the eucalyptus forests of Ulupalakua, and the slopes of Haleakala, exploring upcountry Maui (including the lavender farm Maui) will give you a different perspective of life on the honeymooner’s isle. This is were the people live and if you spend a day or two here you’ll understand why.

Are you heading to Maui and looking for some off the beaten path local treats? I’ve rounded up some of the best places to eat in Maui including my favorite bakeries, coffee shops, food trucks, and quick food stops on different parts of the island. Not only do these places have good grub, but they’re high on local charm as well.

1.Ulupalakua Ranch Store, Ulupalakua: In the heart of Maui’s Upcountry is a huge working cattle ranch where the Ulupalakua Ranch Store has an outdoor kitchen that cooks up made to order beef and elk burgers on the store’s large porch. They usually start cooking around 11 AM and the store inside has cold drinks and side dishes. If you’re out this way, stop by Maui Winery’s Tasting Room across the street to sample their famous pineapple wine (and read this post for more of my favorite Upcountry stops.

2. La Provence, Kula: You wouldn’t expect to find an authentic French bistro and bakery on Maui, but people from all over the world are attracted to Maui and they bring their culture and food with them. Open for breakfast and lunch, the menu is a bit limited (mostly crepes, quiche, and eggs benedict) but there is a lovely assortment of pastries at the bakery inside (the éclairs are out of this world and not to be missed!)

3. Grandma’s Coffee House, Keokea: One of Maui’s hidden gems is located Upcountry in Keokea. Grandma’s Coffee House is a true local’s hangout and if you show up midmorning on the weekends the line is usually out the door. Grandma’s has a wide range of freshly baked goods ranging (including banana bread, cinnamon bread, chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and just about everything else you can imagine) but they also have some of the best Belgian waffles I’ve ever had. Get them loaded with strawberries and you won’t be sorry!

4. Kula Bistro, Kula: The Kula Bistro serves up truly awesome breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but its real draw is its stellar dessert case. Even if you’re not dining there, you can stop in and grab something to go – cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, brownies, and pastries.

5. Nui’s Garden Kitchen, Kula: If you’re Upcountry (probably seeing Haleakala or Maui’s Winery) and really want to get off the beaten path, stop by Nui’s Garden Kitchen, a Thai food truck located at Maui Nui Farm (a local farmer’s market). It’s not fancy and there’s not really anywhere to sit, but if you love Thai food, you won’t be disappointed with this place!

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

If you’re looking for a list of things to do in Maui, then I’ve got you covered! Maui is a huge island and some people get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of incredible things there are to do and see, so beside just straight beach bummin’, here are 15 things to do in Maui that you definitely shouldn’t miss:

1.Check out the views at the Ali’i Lavender Farm. Upcountry Maui is not to be missed. The lavender farm offers beautiful gardens, a quaint gift shop, and a nice café but the views of the island are what makes this a do not miss attraction. They have activities you can sign up for every week, like making wreaths out of succulents and there’s also a scavenger hunt through their gardens.

2. Hang out at Big Beach. One of Maui’s prettiest beaches and a popular hangout spot for locals, Big Beach is south of Wailea in Makena. The huge waves make it good for boogie boarding but take a minute and watch the locals before you dive in to make sure you’re not getting in over your head. If you’re not a strong swimmer, it may be best to hang back and watch. There are plenty of lifeguards on this beach. Keep driving South past Big Beach for a nice shore side drive past some million dollar homes that ends in a lava field.

3. Walk on Ka’anapali Beach. Ka’anapali beach is one of Maui’s best beaches for people watching. There’s a 3-mile long beach walk that begins in front of the Sheraton and goes to the Hyatt at the other end of the beach. Near the middle of the beach is the Whaler’s Village Mall with plenty of great shops and restaurants. The Westin has an exhibit with parrots and flamingos while the Hyatt is home to Maui’s only penguins.

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About Cate

Aloha! I’m Cate…Hawaii lover, wannabe mermaid, beach bum extraordinaire, sand castle architect and firm believer that beach days are the best days! Follow my adventures around the world one beach at a time.